Create Media Partners Seize 'Precious' Opportunity To Make Film On Sporting Legend

Specialist video production company, Create Media Partners, is producing a cinema film based on a true story of Precious McKenzie, MBE, the four-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist in weightlifting.
The production coincides with news that the sportsman is to be inducted into the South African Sport Hall of Fame, 42 years after quitting South Africa’s apartheid republic to compete internationally in England.
The 120-minute cinema production, supported by the UK Film Council and Screen South, is currently at the script development stage, in addition to sourcing the right actors for the key roles. Filming is expected to commence on location in South Africa in by early 2008.
Precious McKenzie, 70, is to be flown to South Africa early next month to attend the induction ceremony at The Emperor’s Palace in Pretoria, where he will be honoured with a bronze head-and-shoulder statue and a commissioned painting commemorating his sporting career.
Mike Sanders, Director of Create Media Partners, said: “Precious McKenzie has an amazing triumph over adversity story to tell, which played a major part in changing his country’s politics. The drama film will cover Precious’ quest to be recognised with a gold medal and how he overcame his country’s efforts under Apartheid to stop him from not only competing but escaping South Africa to England in 1964, through to winning his first Gold Medal inKingston Jamaica. The true life story carries on with another three Gold medals, to the current news of his induction into the renowned Hall of Fame.”
Sanders added: “We are currently in the process of developing the script, as well as sourcing an executive producer to oversee the production with the team here at Create Media Partners.”
For the former South African, the announcement of his forthcoming induction was entirely unexpected.
McKenzie commented: “This means I have come full circle: I left South Africa because the authorities wouldn’t let me compete internationally even though I was the best lifter in my weight division.
"Now, being recognised by my homeland makes all the past sacrifices seem worthwhile. I can die a happy man now.”
(DS)